Persistent anti-social behaviour is 'scary for our community'

Persistent anti-social behaviour in west Belfast has been "really scary for our community", a teenage youth worker has said.

On Saturday night, police closed off a section of the Stewartstown Road after a crowd of about 100 people, many in their early teens, gathered. Bins were set on fire and masonry was thrown at police in scenes described as "absolute chaos".

Megan, 18, who works at the Lagmore youth group in the area, said it was "just awful" that the police had to direct children away.

A police officer was assaulted and 11 police vehicles were damaged during the disorder.

Anti-social behaviour has been an ongoing problem in the area and last week police said they were increasing patrols following reports of stones and bottles being thrown at flats and buses along the road.

Scrambler bikes and e-scooters are another problem - they are being driven at dangerous speeds down the main thoroughfare.

Megan, who is new to driving, said they were "constant" in the area.

"No matter what time of the day... they're everywhere," she said.

She added that they go "very fast" and it was "very scary".

"It's just become normalised now," she added. "I want rid of them, I just want them gone."

Rachel, 17, who volunteers at Lagmore, witnessed Saturday's disorder when her bus was cancelled and she had to walk through it.

"It was really, really scary," she said. "We had to go a long way home."

She added there were too many young people on scramblers and e-scooters.

Emma described hearing the sounds of bottles smashing and said "it felt very dangerous" in the area on Saturday night.

"You didn't want to leave your house," she said.

The 16-year-old, who also volunteers at Lagmore, said it was "kids from the community".

Speaking directly to them, she urged them to find something else to do and said there were events in the area to get them "off the streets".

"You need to understand that it isn't safe for you to be there," she added.

Colm Fanning, project manager at Lagmore, said there had been "a lead up" to the disorder over a number of months.

In May, police officers and firefighters were attacked when responding to reports that large crowds and vehicles had gathered and were driving dangerously.

He said this had "created an atmosphere which some people want to recreate".

"Over the weekend then, of course through social media, there was the death of a young man on a bike and so there had been calls for a commemoration for him," he said.

Fanning added that stolen bikes and scramblers went up and down the main Stewartstown Road and crowds lined the road "watching the mayhem".

"That has created an atmosphere and environment for the riots to take place later on," he explained.

In an update, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were continuing to investigate disorder and reckless riding of scramblers in the area.

They added that a 27-year-old had been charged with disorderly behaviour, and was due to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on 14 August.

A 22-year-old man arrested in connection with a serious assault involving iron bars has been released on police bail to allow for further enquiries.

Ch Insp Philip Robinson said police "intended to make further arrests".

"As part of these enquiries, a 14-year-old teenage boy was arrested on Sunday 19 July on suspicion of a number of offences including riot and disorderly behaviour.

"Following police interview, he was released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

"Our targeted patrols will also continue in the Stewartstown Road and other areas to detect offenders on bikers who are driving illegally," Robinson said.

"We would also reiterate our appeal to parents and guardians to speak to your young people and warn them of the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in them obtaining a criminal record."

Justice Minister Naomi Long called the disorder "appalling".

"The police being attacked in the way they were, the scenes were disgraceful.

"Their parents ought to know where they are and ought to be held accountable if they don't," she told BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show.

She said called on people on scramblers in the area to "consider what they're putting at risk".